Fiber stuffing and fluffing machine

Abstract

A fiber stuffing and fluffing machine utilized for fiber stuffing toys, pillows, and other skins having a venturi vacuum system, a unique agitation cavity and blade arrangement, and various unique mechanical and electrical features which provide improved stuffing and fluffing capabilities over the prior art. The art of the present invention is capable of integration into a single stand alone unit which performs improved fluffing and stuffing operations without the need for external pneumatic sources. The art of the present invention, in its various embodiments, also utilizes scroll compressors or turbine compressors heretofore not found in prior art stuffing and fluffing applications. The present art further provides means for separating foreign objects from the ingested stuffing fibers to protect the fluffer blower.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates in general to stuffing machines and more particularly to a unique fiber stuffing and fluffing machine capable of stuffing pillows, stuffed toys, and other devices, collectively called skins, which comprises unique features not found in the prior art. The present art device utilizes a venturi vacuum system in conjunction with an electric foot switch and air actuated switch and is further fed by a fluffing machine with a unique blast gate valve arrangement. The present art stuffing and fluffing machines are designed in a manner which allows them to be integrated into a single machine along with a compact pneumatic supply.Traditionally stuffing machines comprise at a minimum an output stuffing nozzle tube and an agitation cavity fed by a fiber fluffing machine or picker. Stuffing fibers exit said cavity through a stuffing nozzle. Onto the exiting end of the stuffing nozzle is placed the article to be fiber filled such as the afor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention presumes availability of a compressed air source. In the preferred embodiment, said air source is a uniquely compact air source heretofore not utilized for the present application and also integrally mounted within the stuffing machine. The preferred compact air source is a scroll compressor, heretofore utilized primarily outside of the present art. Said scroll compressor provides superior benefits for the present application. That is, it provides high pressure and high volume airflow in a compact package with a limited noise output. Another preferred compact air source is a turbine compressor, heretofore not utilized in the present art. The turbine compressor provides the desired high volume airflow in a compact package with a limited noise output, yet has a limited pressure output which requires the feed orifices within the aforementioned venturi be larger to accommodate the lower pressure. Traditionally a piston or screw type compressor is used with the present art.

Further alternative embodiments of the present art incorporate one or more colored lighting sources to illuminate the agitation cavity or the machine as a whole. Since the stuffing fiber material which is typically utilized with the present art is of a bright white color, colored lighting shining onto the fibers tends to impart the lighting hue or color to the fiber. This colored effect produces a glowing of the agitating fibers which is attractive and pleasant to the user, thereby enticing the user to utilize the stuffing machine. The colored lighting is automatically sequenced by electronic circuitry of the machine or may be triggered by the same type sensors as described for the aforementioned sound effects. The lighting may be enabled with a plurality of technologies including but not limited to incandescent, flourescent, neon, or light emitting diode sources. The lighting may also utilize gels or colored filters between the light source and the light target to provide further control of the impinging hue.

Problems solved by technology

The turbine compressor provides the desired high volume airflow in a compact package with a limited noise output, yet has a limited pressure output which requires the feed orifices within the aforementioned venturi be larger to accommodate the lower pressure.

Since a negative pressure exists where the fibers enter the stuffing nozzle, the stuffing fibers are not able to easily buildup.

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